Does Drinking Alcohol Hurt Workout Recovery?

Mark my words – based on the results of this recent study, headlines everywhere will soon be trumping the news that you need to stay far away from alcohol if you want to maximize your workout results.

While it is certainly true that the study above, and others before it, have shown that alcohol negatively affects your exercise efforts. Alcohol has shown to decrease the post-workout hormone levels that may help you to build muscle and burn fat (such as testosterone). It also leads to increased inflammation by elevating hormones such as cortisol and inflammatory markers such as creatine kinase.

But what’s most important to understand that a glass of wine won’t do that.

For alcohol intake to hurt workout recovery, you need to be drinking the equivalent of about 4-6 servings of alcohol right after you finish exercising. In that case, not only will the alcohol hurt recovery, but will also give you lots of empty calories and potential for fat gain.

So enjoy that evening glass of merlot with your dinner, no matter what the headlines may be blaring.